Fears Of Dull Fall Haven't Deterred Leaf Watchers

Focus on Business

A lackluster foliage season may be the legacy of the summer's drought, but those in the tourism industry say predictions of a faded autumn haven't kept the crowds away.

``This fall is as busy as ever,'' said Janet Serra, executive director of the Litchfield Hills Travel Council, which promotes tourism in northwestern Connecticut. ``We've been deluged with requests for information.''

By mid-October, the hills are usually blazing with colors -- rich red, vivid orange and brilliant gold -- standing in sharp relief against a hydrangea-blue sky. The annual show brings thousands of tourists into Litchfield County.

``Egypt has its pyramids, Switzerland has its mountains and we have our fall foliage,'' Serra said. While visitors are drawn to the region throughout the year, ``October is our crowned jewel.''

This year, the same drought that brought withered gardens, water restrictions and a burgeoning yellowjacket population is being blamed for droopy leaves and drab foliage.

But it's too early to pronounce this season a foliage fiasco. ``Frankly, every year is a little bit different,'' Serra said last week. ``This is nature's palette.''

Many hotels and restaurants in the region said the predictions have not hurt business. ``Our weekends are as busy as they usually are,'' said Sue Vaill, general manager of the Yankee Pedlar Inn in Torrington. ``The colors so far look pretty good.''

The Old Riverton Inn, a historic, 12- room lodging house in the quaint village of Riverton, is booked through much of the fall, said owner Mark Telford.

``I don't think it's going to be as terrible as people are saying,'' he said. ``It never is.''

Telford's inn, a former stagecoach stop on Route 20, is located near two state forests. From his perch, ``the foliage looks pretty nice,'' he reported on Friday.

The autumnal splendor is more than a pretty show. Local businesses depend on fall to bring tourists with money to spend.

Weekenders from the metropolitan New York area make up the bulk of the region's visitors, although people come here from throughout the world, Serra said, citing Ohio, Wisconsin, Texas and California as among the places where Connecticut draws its crowds.

Unlike foliage stops in northern New England, Litchfield County isn't a magnet for diesel-spewing tour buses. The region appeals to individual travelers, not the group-tour crowd, Serra said.

The Litchfield Hills Travel Council promotes a 26-town region, which stretches from Salisbury to Hartland and New Milford to Bristol. The region recently received a boost when it was named one of the 10 best spots for leaf- peepers by the Boston Sunday Globe.

Serra said she is confident nature will come through with its annual show. ``We have so many trees,'' she said. ``You're still surrounded by color, even if those colors aren't as vibrant.''